Norwich City 3-1 Birmingham: Marcelino Nunez hits double in comprehensive Canaries win (2024)

Two goals from Marcelino Nunez, the first an absolute stunner, guided Norwich to a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Birmingham at Carrow Road.

The Chile international produced a stunning volley from well outside the box to open the scoring after 27 minutes and quickly added a second to seemingly put the Canaries in command.

Birmingham gave them a scare by pulling one back early in the second half through Maxime Colin and went on to give a good account of themselves until a late third from substitute Christos Tzolis settled the issue.

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The win boosted Norwich's Championship play-off bid while a third straight defeat for Blues left them looking anxiously over their shoulders at the teams below them.

Despite their main strikers Teemu Pukki and Josh Sargent both being out through injury, the Canaries were quick to seize the initiative and their former 'keeper John Ruddy made an excellent point-blank save to deny Kieran Dowell after just three minutes.

Kenny McLean fired wide after a goalmouth scramble as the hosts continued to dominate and they deservedly took the lead on 27 minutes through a quite brilliant goal from Nunez.

When a Dowell corner was headed well clear by Kevin Long there appeared to be nothing on for the midfielder but as the ball came down he connected perfectly to volley home into the top corner from some 25 yards out.

Such was the difficulty of the angle, and the distance from goal, that the home fans were stunned into silence for a split-second before the celebrations got under way.

Nunez doubled Norwich's advantage with a rather more straightforward effort nine minutes later. Poor Birmingham defending gave him all the space he needed in the area and when McLean's left-wing cross came over he had no difficulty steering it into the roof of the net.

With Blues posing little threat, David Wagner's side could easily have been out of sight at the break, with a last-ditch tackle from Emmanuel Longelo and then a strong arm from Ruddy denying Idah in the closing stages of the half.

Birmingham got themselves back into the game on 52 minutes when their first effort on target produced a goal, and a well-taken one at that.

Hannibal Mejbri's cross from the left deflected nicely into the path of Colin just outside the box but there was still plenty to do for the defender, who took aim and drilled a low shot into the corner of the net, giving Angus Gunn no chance.

Tahith Chong fired just over from distance as the visitors looked for an equaliser before Norwich went desperately close to restoring their two-goal advantage.

When McLean got an outstretched leg to Idah's nod-on to take the ball past the onrushing Ruddy it looked a goal all the way but Long somehow got back to scoop the ball off the line.

Birmingham kept battling right to the end but were caught short at the back in injury time, with a quick break enabling substitute Tzolis to curl home a third for the hosts.

The managers

Norwich's David Wagner:

"It was an unbelievable strike from 'Nacho' - and his overall performance was brilliant too, a real 10 out of 10. He hasn't had too many opportunities since I have been here and when he was played it has often been in wide areas, which isn't really playing to his strengths.

"But tonight he was given the number 10 role and I thought he gave a perfect performance in that role. It's something that really suits him as a player and after his great strike he showed it with the second goal when he got into the box to convert Kenny's cross.

"He was also all over the pitch, working hard and we love him as a player - and as a character too. He isn't one of those players who learns the language quickly but that hasn't stopped him from being a really popular member of the group, someone who always has a smile on his face. Overall it was good performance and I think a deserved win. Now it's about finding that consistency and trying to make it three home wins on the trot against Cardiff on Saturday."

Birmingham's John Eustace:

"I thought the lads battled away well and could easily have taken something out of the game. We were up against a top team, with lots of Premier League players in there, and gave a good account of ourselves, especially in the second half. Obviously the first goal was an outstanding strike but the second was very disappointing from our point of view. We didn't stop the cross coming in and then the marking was poor - not getting the basics right is costing us dearly at the moment.

"We had two different formations in each half, both of them attacking, and I thought we gave them plenty of problems although against a quality side like them you can always concede at the other end. It's just a shame we gave ourselves so much to do by conceding twice in the first half - that is something we need to look at."